Furniture Design and Making – Level 5 QQI Award

Course description

Duration:
This is a Full time one year course, which runs from September to May.

Overview:
DFEi has a long history of providing further education and training courses aimed at students who want to work in the furniture industry. Students develop essential craftsman’s skills to assist them in gaining employment in this industry. Within this year students will be introduced to the use of hand tools and woodworking machinery as they construct their furniture projects. Students will also learn drawing, design skills, veneering and marquetry, wood finishing and computer aided draughting (2D) to support the design and furniture making process.This course is supported by excellently equpped workshops and IT resources.  These include all of the expected woodworking equipment, a new industrial grade panel saw, a spray booth and a CNC router.

Entry Requirements
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full Level 4 QQI/FETAC Award (or equivalent)
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) – appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college
• Applicants whose first language is not English require level B2 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules:

• Furniture Making
• Computer Aided Draughting (2D)
• Design Skills
• Drawing
• Veneering and Marquetry
• Safety and Health at Work
• Communications
• Work Experience

Certification:
Level 5 Award Furniture Design and Making (5M2012)

Special Features:
Free Autodesk Software Subscription for all students on this course to facilitate assessment work.

All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, outlook and OneDrive.

Work Experience:
Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.
Additional Information

Additional Information:
A Visual Design Exhibition of students’ work from this course is held annually in DFEi, in May, providing an opportunity for students to showcase the skills and knowledge they have acquired.

Assessment:

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination (Written)
• Project
• Skills Demonstration

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details

Progression Opportunities:

DFEi: Graduates may progress to the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Furniture Design and Making at DFEi.
Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Progression Examples:

BSc Architectural Technology (TU831)

BSc Sustainable Timber Technology (TU838)

BSc Product Design (TU811)

Technological University Dublin – www.tud.ie

BSc Furniture Design and Manufacture (GA981)

BSc Furniture Design Making and Technology (GA984)

BSc Furniture Making and Architectural Woodworking (GA982)

BSc Furniture and Digital Manufacturing (GA983)

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology – www.gmit.ie

Career Paths:
Graduate opportunities may include the following: furniture designer or maker, apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery, interior design, product design, construction industry, management/sales within the furniture industry or self-employment.